This daisy family, originally from North America, is very popular in this country. The flowers of the coneflower are enchanting with their size, their different colors and the striking hedgehog-like flower center. Even bees find it difficult to take their eyes off these flowers
Why is coneflower good for bees?
The coneflower is particularly bee-friendly because it is rich in nectar and has a long flowering period. Unfilled varieties such as 'Magnus', 'Red Pearl' or 'Delicious Candy' are particularly rich in nectar and popular with bees. Regular watering and fertilizing supports flower formation until autumn.
Is the coneflower often swarmed by bees?
The coneflower is extremelylike swarmed by bees. These include both honey bees and wild bees. If the coneflower comes into your field of vision and you smell its scent, you are literally drawn to it as if by a magnet. Even bumblebees and butterflies apparently cannot resist the attraction.
Why is the coneflower considered bee-friendly?
Due to its abundance ofnectar and its long flowering period, the coneflower is one of the bee-friendly plants. It blooms from June and with a little care until autumn.
Do all coneflower varieties contain a lot of nectar?
Not all varieties of coneflower are generously filled with nectar. There are double-flowering cultivars of Echinacea purpurea that are worthless to bees because they hardly contain any nectar or because the many petals in the middle of the flower make it inaccessible to bees.
Are the unfilled varieties of coneflower rich in nectar?
The unfilled varieties of coneflower are usuallynectar-rich and are therefore a real pasture for bees. Depending on the variety, bees will find up to 300 tubular flowers in the middle of the flower. These are not only full of nectar, but they also contain a lot of pollen, which is also needed by the bee world. Since these are golden yellow in color, they are not overlooked by insects.
Which varieties of coneflower are particularly rich in nectar?
There arenumerous varieties of Echinacea that are rich in nectar. The best varieties for bees include:
- ‘Magnus’
- ‘Red Pearl’
- ‘Delicious Candy’
- ‘Meditation White’
- ‘Orange Skipper’
- ‘Cheyenne Spirit’
- ‘Satisfy’
How can bees enjoy coneflowers until autumn?
So that the coneflower blooms from June to autumn, you should cut off the wilted flowers regularly. The plant then produces new flowers. But in order for it to really succeed, there should be enough nutrients in the soil. Lack of nutrients results in new flowers not being formed. Therefore, fertilize this plant at regular intervals!
Tip
Watering so that the coneflower flowers do not wilt prematurely
So that bees can feed on the flowers for a long time and find plenty of nectar, you should not let Echinacea dry out. Drought causes the flowers to wilt prematurely and the seeds to form more quickly.
